Online love scams: How to spot the warning signs

As romance scams continue to rake in cashfrom trusting BritishColumbianslooking for love, a consumer advocate isoffering advice on how to protect yourself on datingwebsites.

"This is obviously a huge problem," said Evan Kelly, Senior Communications Advisor for the Better Business Bureau for Mainland B.C.

"We've had many cases here in British Columbia alone where we're heard of women in particular ...give away over $200,000, all up, before it was actually stopped," Kelly said.

His organization namedromantic double-dealing as a Top-10 scam last year.

AMaple Ridge man is scheduled to appear in court Monday, accused of faking relationships to steal thousands of dollars from a seriesof people, and another man was arrested earlier this month on Vancouver Island on similar charges.

Thescammersmay start by asking for small amounts of money, but it can quickly add up, he told Stephen Quinn, host ofCBC'sThe Early Edition.

New Westminster Police have also put out a warning about online dating scams.

Canadians lost a reported $19 million to romancescammerslast year, but that number is just the tip of the iceberg, Kelly said.

"That's maybe five per cent reporting," he said. "Especially when it comes to online dating, people are ashamed that they've been taken advantage of like this and they don't want to be identified."

The Better Business Bureau recently released a study about romance scams and who is being targeted.

"It doesn't matter how old you are, it doesn't matter what your sexual orientation or gender is everybody is a susceptible target when it comes to romance scams," he said.

Red flags

Scammerstypically come across as extremely eager in the beginning, raining down compliments and asking to meet, Kelly said.

They'll quickly move communication away from the dating site, to email or text message, in case their profile is flagged and shut down.

"Then all of a sudden the sob stories are going to happen they've been in an accident, they need money for something," Kelly said. "And there's always going to be a reason why you're not going to meet them."

He said an estimated one-quarterof online profiles are fake on reputable dating sites and social media networks.

Doing a reverse image search online or Googling a name can help verify someone's profile.

"When it comes to online dating, it comes down to us being able to recognize the fake ones from legitimate ones that means just doing more homework," Kelly said.

With files fromThe Early Edition.